Lightweight carrying pack for beach umbrella adapted to carry pillow and other objects

ABSTRACT

A portable beach carrying pack for carrying to the beach a beach umbrella, umbrella support pole and pillow, all VELCRO fastened to the carrying pack which serves to keep the pillow off the sand and to provide pouches to secure small items, such as car keys and money, that may otherwise be lost in the sand or damaged by sand. The beach carrying pack may also be used to carry a variety of items such as a portable disc player onto the beach and to keep it out of the sand while the carrying pack is placed on the beach. A stake provides a means for support in the sand to hold upright the umbrella support pole upon which the umbrella is fastened. Placement of umbrella may be adjusted on a radial axis with a set screw and clamping means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to means for carrying an umbrella and a pillow to the beach together with other objects that need to be protected from sand and water on the beach in a lightweight unit.

2. Brief Description of the Related Art

Sandy beaches are rarely accessible by motor vehicle, and it is often necessary to walk a long distance to the water's edge over very loose sand and of course the farthest from where the car is parked is the most desirable part of the beach, namely at or near the high-water mark reached by the breaking surf. The dry sand beyond the high-water mark is often very fine and loose to a considerable depth so that it is easy to lose small objects in the sand, and objects as large as car keys. Even larger objects, such as portable radios or audio tape and disc players that are too big to lose in the sand can become embedded in sand to a point where damage is caused by loose sand if those objects are placed directly on the beach.

Consequently, it is the practice of many beach goers to carry several objects in a beach bag and at a minimum an umbrella for shade of at least the face, a towel, a pillow for comfort, and a radio, audio tape or compact disc player for entertainment besides personal items, such as lipstick, sunblock and a comb. Although possible if necessary to carry, all that is much too cumbersome and awkward to carry separately. If these objects are carried together in a large beach bag, as customarily the case, beachgoers must shuffle though all these items each time any one of the items is desired. Having the items separated in an organized manner would be ideal.

Additionally, there is a fear of losing personal items in the sand and having the entertainment system damaged by loose sand or damaged by salty sea water when not in use. The dry sand may be loose to such a considerable depth that it becomes difficult to keep the entertainment system from being damaged by the sand or water and to keep an umbrella supported on an upright pole from being tipped over by gusts of wind, or to keep an umbrella tilted at a proper angle to cast shade on the other side of the support pole without it being swivelled on its pole by gusts of wind such that the umbrella will no longer be casting its shade in the desired direction. It is very annoying to have to continually adjust the umbrella under those conditions. Sun bathers typically want to lie with their heads under the umbrella out of the sand and supported by a pillow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an improvement upon a prior patented invention that provided a platform for beach umbrella adapted to carry pillow and other objects. That platform was made of a sheet of lightweight, rigid and durable material, such as wood or plastic, with a hand grip near one edge for carrying the platform and with means affixed to the platform for holding one end of an umbrella support pole perpendicular to the platform after it is placed horizontally on the sand and further having means for securing the umbrella, support pole and pillow on the platform for conveniently carrying them to the beach.

The present invention reduces the need for a rigid and durable material such as wood or plastic and instead utilizes a flexible material capable of being folded into various shapes and sizes as required to accommodate being placed into a storage compartment of a home or a car.

The present invention eliminates the need for the platform as a means affixed to the platform for holding an umbrella. The umbrella of the present invention has a means coupled to said umbrella by use of a stake so as to provide a user a means for a variety of arrangements surrounding said user with the choice of a multitude of placements for said umbrella so as to provide said user with maximum protection from the sun during any part of the day and allowing said user to arrange himself or herself in any desired position and not have to modify lying position on the beach. The present invention eliminates the need for a platform to support an umbrella in place. A stake is attached to an umbrella offering a placement means for insertion into the sand thereby holding the umbrella in a suitable position blocking the sun.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said umbrella may be placed at any desired location most suitable for blocking the sun's direct rays from a user's desired location. Said stake may be placed in the sand in any locations deemed appropriate by a user.

When not in use, said stake may be inserted into a pouch means on either side of the present invention and secured by Velcro straps for transportation. The ability for the stake means to be secured on either side of the invention while being carried allows for the umbrella also to be placed on either side of the invention while being carried so as to prevent a user from bumping into things while being carried. This would be especially useful to users who wish to alternate due to being either a right side dominant hand or other users with a left side dominant hand.

A further improvement is a third strapping system enabling carrying either an extra umbrella along with extra stakes, or other useful things for beachgoing.

The improvement of the stake means allows for the ability to be used with multiple umbrellas whereas, before a beachgoer was only able to carry a single umbrella. Additional umbrella insertion means may be desired as additional beachgoers may arrive to the beach together. Additional umbrella stakes may be carried by the same person as the stakes may all be carried in the present invention in one compact unit using the multiple Velcro straps.

In another embodiment of the invention, means affixed to one end of the umbrella support pole is placed at a location some distance from said user and oriented to protect user from wind carrying unsettled sand and other debris as such would nuisance a beachgoer.

Said means coupled to said umbrella would provide for adequate depth so as to prevent small gusts of wind from tipping umbrella over or relocating said umbrella from desired position optimal for blocking sun's rays or small gusts of sandy wind.

Means for clamping the handle of the opened umbrella on this horizontal short rod is provided in order to orient the handle of the umbrella at any desired angle up to about 90.degrees in either direction around the axis of a short rod so that the umbrella shadow will be cast to either side of the invention while the support pole may be turned on its axis.

On the first side of the carrying pack is an attachment means for accommodating a pillow for carrying. A space is also provided on the carrying bag on the side opposite the pillow, the second side, for carrying of other items useful to the beachgoer.

Between the pillow and the space for strapping the unopened umbrella on the first side of the carrying pack, there is provided a means for securing at least one of a selected number of items such as a radio, tape or disc player in conveniently accessible pouches for storing small objects out of sight, such as car keys and money, for example. As a way of example and not limitation, said pouches may be secured by either Velcro or zippers.

In another embodiment of the present invention, while the carrying pack may easily be displaced in the direction of possibly strong gusts of wind, any object of significant weight, such as a stereo radio, tape or laser disk entertainment system, will prevent such gusts of wind from displacing the carrying pack unit, but with a sunbathing person's head on the carrying bag unit with or without the pillow, displacement will not likely occur.

In another embodiment of the invention said umbrella may be placed at any desired location most suitable for blocking the sun's direct rays from a user's desired location. Said stake may be placed in the sand in any location deemed appropriate by a user. Said placement may be chosen based on desirability in blocking the sun's rays or on desirability in blocking gusts of wind carrying sand or other debris.

In all embodiments, the pillow may have a beach towel attached to it such that opposite sides thereof may be folded in and the folded towel then furled around the pillow before strapping it on the carrying pack while carrying it to the beach. On the beach, the towel is unfurled from the pillow which may be re-strapped on to the carrying pack so that the beachgoer may use the towel to recline on the beach with his/her head on the pillow that is supported off the sand by the carrying pack. These and other variations are intended to be within the scope of the invention.

In all embodiments of the present invention, the insertion means for the umbrella is a stake rod with insertion end sharp enough to insert into beach sand but not sharp enough to pose as a danger to any beachgoer. Said stake is affixed to carrying bag and is inserted into built in pouch in carrying bag, with Velcro straps securing stake in place.

An improvement allows for the umbrella to be placed on either side of the invention while being carried so as to prevent from bumping into things while being carried in either a user's right or left hand.

A further improvement is a third strapping system enabling carrying either an extra umbrella or other useful things for beachgoing.

The improvement of the stake means allows for the ability to be used with multiple umbrellas whereas, before a beachgoer was only able to carry a single umbrella. Additional umbrella insertion means may be desired as additional beachgoers may arrive to the beach together. Additional umbrella stakes may be carried by the same person as the stakes may all be carried in the present invention in one compact unit.

In all embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus is flexible and may be easily folded in various shapes and sizes to accommodate for storage or to fit into a tightly confined space such as a vehicle trunk for transportation or in a closet for storage.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will best be understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Still other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of embodiments constructed in accordance therewith, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a beach carrying pack (1) for a pillow (2), pouches (3), pouch cover flaps (5), disc player storage pouch (4), carrying handle (6), stake means (7), beach umbrella (8), pillow attachment means (10), stake pouch (16), and Velcro straps (9) for fastening said umbrella (8), being carried to the beach.

FIG. 2 illustrates the beach carrying pack (1) set up with the umbrella (8) open and placed securely in sand with stake means (7).

FIG. 3 illustrates the beach carrying pack (1) and pillow (2) being used by a beachgoer with the pillow (2) being supported by the beach carrying pack and with pouches (3), supported by said beach carrying pack keeping contents away from sand.

FIG. 4 illustrates to another embodiment of a beach carrying pack (1) with the beach umbrella (8) removed from the plurality of velcro straps (9).

FIG. 5 illustrates the portable beach carrying pack (1) with pillow (2) shown removed in order to more clearly illustrate Velcro attachment means (10) for pillow (2).

FIG. 6 illustrates a view of the portable beach carrying pack (1), showing large pouch (11) and cover flap (12).

FIG. 7 illustrates the beach umbrella (8), coupled to umbrella handle (14), and clamping means (13). The umbrella (8) with clamping means (13) for clamping the umbrella handle (14) to a short rod (15) extending out at 90.degrees with respect to the axis of the stake means (7).

FIG. 8 illustrates stake insertion means (7) for placement of umbrella (8) into said.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. Referring to the drawing figures, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements throughout the several figures.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed and Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a beach carrying pack (1) which is provided for carrying to the beach an umbrella (8) and a pillow (2) attached with Velcro straps (9) to a beach carrying pack. Upon arriving at the beach, the beachgoer carries the beach carrying pack from a vehicle to a desired location at the beach and lays the beach carrying pack (1) on the sand and unstraps the umbrella which has a clamping means (13) on the end of the umbrella handle (14). An umbrella support pole and stake means (7), wherein stake is removed from pouch (16), also unstrapped from velcro straps (9) with the umbrella, is inserted into sand at a desired location in the sand. Then the clamping means (13) is used to fasten the umbrella to a short rod (15) extending from the end of the support pole and stake means (7) at 90.degrees to the axis of the support pole stake means (7) so that the clamping means (13) may be used to set the umbrella tilted about the axis of the short rod (15) before or after it is opened.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a carrying pack (1) with umbrella (8) removed from Velcro straps (9). FIG. 5 shows the umbrella (8) and pillow (2), which are the same as in FIG. 4, removed from the carrying pack (1). The pillow (2) is detachably coupled to carrying pack with Velcro attachment means (10).

Referring to FIG. 6, a large rear pouch (11) and securing flap (12) are visible from this view. Large pouch (11) is suitable for large items such as a beach towel that once a desired beach location is acquired, large items can be removed thereby allowing for flattening of large pouch (11) and serving as underside of carrying pack (1) and pillow (2) on opposite side of large pouch (11).

Referring to FIG. 7, clamping means (13) allows a user to further adjust the direction of the umbrella (8) as selected, or to make any general adjustment of direction. By way of an example and not limitation, a set screw (17) on said clamping means (13) is loosened in order to turn umbrella handle (14) and umbrella (8) to another direction. After adjustment, the set screw (17) is tightened.

In that manner, the carrying pack (1) and umbrella (8) are set up in the same manner as shown in FIG. 2, and the umbrella (8) is tilted to one side or the other with the clamping means (13) and positioning said umbrella (8) on its axis to cast the shade of the umbrella in a selected direction using the set screw (17) of the clamping means (13).

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, carrying pouches (3) are provided on the carrying pack for the convenience of the beachgoer, either of which may be used to hold by way of example and not limitation, car keys and money, and disc player storage pouch (4) provides as a carrying means by way of an example and not limitation for carrying a disc player or any other item of similar proportions.

In all embodiments the preferred means for strapping the umbrella (8) and support pole (14) onto the carrying pack (1) is VELCRO fastening means (9). The pillow is also best fastened with VELCRO fastening means (10), although for the pillow elastic straps could be used, but since elastic straps tend to loose elasticity with exposure to sun and moisture, it is preferred to use VELCRO fastening means (10).

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 a carrying handle (6) provides the beachgoer with a better grip of the carrying pack (1) and allows a beachgoers to carry entire carrying pack (1) and its contents in one hand and thereby allowing other hand to be free to carry any other items to the beach.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications may readily occur to those skilled in the art. Consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents thereof.

Still other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the detailed description of embodiments constructed in accordance therewith, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restricted. The scope of the invention described by the foregoing includes all changes that come within the meaning, range and equivalence thereof and is intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A lightweight carrying pack for carrying a beach umbrella, the beach umbrella, a support pole for said umbrella, said support pole having a short rod attached to one end thereof by a 90 degree elbow, and a pillow comprising a carrying pack comprised of a lightweight, durable and flexible material with a handgrip near one edge for carrying, means for strapping said umbrella onto said platform together with said umbrella support pole, means for strapping said pillow onto said carrying pack, means affixed to said carrying pack for holding the other end of said umbrella support pole opposite said one end with its axis perpendicular to said carrying pack after said carrying pack is placed horizontally and said umbrella support pole is unstrapped together with said umbrella, and clamping means connected to a handle of said umbrella for fastening said umbrella handle to said short rod of said support pole at said one end in a desired axial position with respect to said axis of said support pole.
 2. A portable beach carrying pack as according to claim 1 wherein said 90 degree elbow is set on said support pole and is rigidly attached to said short rod, and said clamping means includes means for tightening said clamping means to grip said short rod of said support pole after setting the axial position of said umbrella with respect to said axis of said support pole.
 3. A portable beach carrying pack according to claim 2 wherein said elbow set on said support pole is set tight by a set screw that may be loosened to select a radial position of said short rod of said support pole with respect to said carrying pack after which said set screw is tightened.
 4. A portable beach carrying pack as defined in claim 2 wherein said means affixed to said umbrella support pole comprises a sharp stake as a means for insertion into sand, whereby a desired location for placement of said umbrella may be attained.
 5. A portable beach carrying pack as defined in claim 1 including a plurality of pouches in said carrying pack.
 6. A portable beach carrying pack as defined in claim 5, wherein said plurality of pouches opens and closes by Velcro means.
 7. A portable beach carrying pack as defined in claim 5, wherein said plurality of pouches opens and closes by zipper means.
 8. A portable beach carrying pack as defined in claim 5, wherein a pouch is provided for insertion and transportation of said stake for insertion into sands means.
 9. A portable beach carrying pack as defined in claim 1 including a pouch for storing items while said carrying pack is in use.
 10. A portable beach carrying pack according to claim 9, wherein said pouch provides storage for a compact disc player and compact discs. 